It seems like every Christian parent feels the burden of helping their kids come to know and understand the love of God. I know I do! While we can’t make our kids accept Jesus as their Savior (only the Holy Spirit can do that), we can create an environment in which they see and experience the love of Christ and learn about his incredible sacrifice for them.
One of the ways I have tried to introduce Jesus to my kids at an early age is through books. And there are so many good ones out there! Here are five books for children that I read regularly to my girls to help open their eyes to the Gospel.
1. “The Jesus Storybook Bible” by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Using language simple enough for children to grasp but powerful enough to evoke tears even in adults, Sally Lloyd-Jones does a beautiful job of presenting Jesus as the ultimate hero whose love knows no bounds in this moving retelling of the Bible.
2. “The Beginner’s Bible,” published by Zonderkidz
This children’s Bible was gifted to us when my first daughter was born, and we have loved reading through it! It contains over 90 Bible stories written in a way that children can understand. It is a great foundational resource to help develop in your children a love for reading the Word.
3. “God’s Very Good Idea” by Trillia Newbell
This book points to the diversity of God’s creation and how God’s very good idea was to make all kinds of people to love him and each other. The story starts with the Garden of Eden and explains how, because of our sin, Jesus came to rescue us. Because of Jesus, everyone can be part of God’s very good idea.
4. “The Christmas Promise” by Alison Mitchell
I know this is a Christmas book, but the birth of Jesus should be celebrated all year round, right? This beautifully written and illustrated book talks about how a long time ago, God promised a new King, a rescuing King, a forever King who would be different from every king before. And God fulfilled that promise in Jesus!
5. “The Biggest Story Bible Storybook” by Kevin DeYoung
Like “The Jesus Storybook Bible,” this book shows children how all of the stories in the Bible point back to Jesus. It is another beautiful retelling of the Bible.
If you’re feeling the burden of making sure your preschoolers know who Jesus is, consider choosing one of these books and reading to your kids from it every night. By doing so, you’ll be planting Gospel seeds in them for the Holy Spirit to water and bring to life one day!
